In place of democracy, ANOTHER CLAMPDOWN on dissent

Police on Friday detained three well-known student activists, members of Khon Kaen University’s “Dao Din group”, who were preparing to publicly demonstrate moral support for seven fellow members for whom arrest warrants have been issued. Kwanhathai Patumtawonsakul, Jiratchaya Hannarong and Krit Sangsurin had been verbally threatened even before they were arrested on their way to Khon Kaen’s Democracy Monument. They were held incommunicado at the Sri Patcharin military camp, and released the same day without being charged with any offence.

The Dao Din activists have a track record of helping needy citizens of the Northeast and for trying to foster Thai democracy. They fought alongside residents of Loei against a copper mine believed to be harming the environment and ruining local livelihoods. So their struggle against social injustice was well known long before the May 2014 military coup.

The Dao Din group has only about 10 active members. The students’ clear objective is to help bring about social wellbeing and democracy. They desire no political power and, we would hope, need none to achieve that objective. They carry no weapons, and nor do they require an “army” to back up their efforts. Wielding nothing more than common sense and bare hands, the students pose no security threat whatsoever. That these young people are being harassed by the government can only mean that the military brass feels desperately insecure.

The military is worried, of course, that the Dao Din group might inspire other students, activists and citizens to up rise up in protest. The police and military now keep close watch on 

 dozens of students across the country. There is a high possibility that at least 16 students, including seven from Dao Din, will end up in jail.

For now the junta is wearing velvet gloves. Security officials, especially in the Northeast, have contacted the parents of these students to warn them that their children’s undesirable behaviour can only lead to trouble. Second Army Region Commander Lt General Thawat Sukplang, in charge of the Northeast, has denied that the parents were threatened in any way, saying the authorities were only trying to “forge an understanding” about the young people who, he said, are undermining peace and order.

Thawat said several of the Dao Din parents are government officials, and they were reminded that their children’s behaviour is inappropriate and against the law. Some of the parents, he admitted, refused to force their children to behave according to the junta’s wishes.

The government, however, has no such compunction. It is quite ready to mobilise personnel and other resources in an effort to control youthful minds.

Instead, the generals need to open their own minds and listen to what is being said across the country. The message – from the students and from most other citizens who dare to speak out – is clear enough. They simply want the basic right to freedom of expression restored so that they can voice their concerns over social injustice. These are messengers of goodwill, and their message is one we endorse, as surely do the majority of people in this country.

Yet, in its place, we are seeing only undemocratic and unjust action being taken against the students. The junta’s rationale for seizing power included democracy and reconciliation. How are such goals to be achieved when young citizens are being swept up by the police? 

Rather, the junta is turning them into enemies of the state.